Primary Program 2013

Oh, how I love primary.

This was our 4th primary program as a Primary Presidency and once again, it was such a wonderful experience!

We have the best primary – I absolutely love our kids and our leaders.  After putting in a bazillion hours – it’s nice when it all turns out fabulous!

This kiddo did great.  He scored himself 2 speaking parts and a part in a special musical number by our “junior primary choir”.  So proud of him!  It’s a weird thought to think that Mr. Ryan will be in next year’s program!

nursery and a sciatic nerve

The nursery is officially done . . . we just need a little girl to decide to join us.  A big thanks to Sam for her help on the nursery – she is always my go-to decorating gal.  She found the cutest “ABC’s of London” print that was the beginning of the nursery!  And she also made her little niece a darling quilt.  She’s got sewing skills I definitely don’t have.

Now on to the sciatic nerve part.  On Sunday morning I went to church and was actually feeling pretty good!  Then I came home and in a matter of seconds my back hurt sooooo bad I wanted to crawl up in a ball and disappear somewhere.  It was a crazy sciatic nerve that decided to act up on my left side of my back, through my butt, and down my leg.  It was awful.  I had Wes try to rub it and he was super soft and gentle but hit just the right spot that sent a pain through my back that sent tears to my eyes immediately.  The only positive part is that I wasn’t having any pre-labor contraction pain at the same time!  This pain carried on through Monday and I still have it but I’ve managed to learn a few stretches that help and if I keep it iced during the day, that helps too.

After weeks of pretty consistent pre-labor contractions I was convinced she was going to come early.  Now I’m pretty sure she’ll be late which is okay by me at this point since our primary program is on Sunday and I would love to not only see Nate, but all of our darling primary kids that we’ve worked so hard with this year! 

Fun Run at Bartlett Elementary

Nate got to participate in his first school fundraiser this week – the Apex Fun Run.  He absolutely loved the 2 weeks at school with Apex representatives in his classroom talking about exercise and raising money for your school.  There were definitely some interesting parts of this fundraiser but Nate loved it and I guess that’s what matters most!  Nate said, “Mom, school just started and they are already doing something this fun!”

Nate gathered donations for his running . . . the most he could run is 36 laps and he was determined to do it.  It was pretty fun to watch him . . . he was so focused he wouldn’t even look over at us cheering for him.  He ran rather fast for quite a while!  He didn’t even stop to walk to drink his water . . . he drank while he ran.  And in true Griffeth fashion, he had his tongue peeking out as a sign of true concentration.

This is at the end or right after . . . he finally waved at us and said hi . . . did a walking lap with his cute teacher Ms. Maclean . . . and a cute 5th grader in our ward, Easton Putnam, came to join him on his last laps which Nate thought was really neat.

He did it – all 36 laps!

Nate’s biggest cheerleader, Ryan.

Ryan time

I love one-on-one time with my kids.  Nate obviously got 2.5 years of one-on-one time before Ryan was born and while I’ve had my fair share of times with just Ryan . . . there’s something about having all day with him over and over that has been so fun.

Ryan is such a good only-child.  We have play-dates, we run errands, we play UNO, we watch a show . . . we just have fun.  And I’m loving it with this soon-to-be-middle-child-of-mine.  So grateful I at least am able to have a few weeks with just him before our peanut arrives and look forward to finding time for just him once she gets here.

Love this crazy boy of mine.

pregnancy with my little girl.

I figured it was time to write about my pregnancy with my little lady before it’s over!

For the first two trimesters, everything seemed pretty much the same as my pregnancies with the boys, other than my crazy left leg that went nuts with varicose veins {thanks mom}.  I felt pretty good for most of it avoiding extreme sickness, etc.  I did throw up a little bit more in the morning but it was still pretty rare.  The main difference has been the pressure that I’ve felt ever since I started showing.  Sometimes I feel like she’s just going to fall out!  But apparently it’s normal. 

It’s amazing to feel life inside your belly.  It’s also a little creepy to me, too.  But I love knowing she’s in there – she never lets me forget!  She is constantly moving.  We say that she’s doing karate because my stomach is always moving or jolting from her kicks, flips, etc.  I hope she’s getting all of her craziness out in my belly before she comes up.  I swear she never sleeps already.

People tend to nest when their pregnant but I think I take nesting to an entirely new level.  I always feel like there’s something more to do but when I take a look back at all of the projects and re-organizing I’ve done in the last few months, it is a little nuts.  But it’s sure nice to have done!  The nursery is in the finishing touches stage which is a relief.

I’m excited and slightly terrified to have a girl.  I know it will be great and fun but I’m definitely used to a boy world that I’ve grown to love.  It will be fun to watch Nate & Ryan help take care of their little sis and be her biggest protectors.  She definitely will learn early how to fend for herself in this house.  It will be fun to have another girl in the house and to change it up a bit.

It’s no secret that I’m not a huge fan of the baby stage.  But I am pretty excited to get this little girl here and see what she looks like, what her personality will be, etc.  I think knowing that this is our last one is helping me be excited to just enjoy every stage even more . . . even the hard parts . . . because it goes by so quickly. 

I’m excited to do it all again.  Let the waiting game begin!

{at my doc appt this morning I was dilated to a 2 . . . }

Ryan’s 1st day of preschool

Ryan has been watching Nate go to school for years and his day finally came.  He has been waiting for so long!

He is going to the wonderful Ms. Joy two mornings a week.  She is such a great teacher . . . he’s going to have a great year with her.

As we were driving there, Ryan informed me that I didn’t need to take him to the door – that I could just open the van door and he’d run in.  We had a brief parent orientation so his wish was not granted but I love that he’s so independent and confident. 

He had a great first day . . . earning two stickers for his good behavior.  When I asked how it was and if he was a good boy, he says “mom, I was good.  I didn’t hit anybody.”  I guess that’s all it takes to have a good day.  No hitting.

Love this crazy boy.